Serial killer Levi Bellfield has accused Surrey Police of giving "no thought" to Milly Dowler's family after the force said he had confessed to her killing.

The 47-year-old, who is serving a whole-life sentence after being convicted in 2011 of murdering the teenager, denied making the admission in a letter seen by the Sun on Sunday.

And he said the public announcement by police had also shown no regard for his own family, who were "innocent parties caught in the crossfire".

It comes after his solicitor Julie Cooper reportedly contacted Surrey Police to suggest "covert" recordings were made during a prison interview and demand access to the tape and notes from the meeting.

In a letter to a journalist written under the name Yusuf Rahim, Bellfield said he was "surprised and disappointed" when news of the confession emerged, adding he had not spoken to officers since "early last year".

Victim: Milly Dowler was killed after being grabbed on her way home in 2002 (Photo: PA)

Referring to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (Pace) - the legislation which governs police interviews - he said: "Under Pace, I have made no admission to murder. This is fact."

"It is with deep regret that Surrey Police can release such appalling information so publicly with no thought to the victims' families, and my family who are innocent parties caught in the crossfire."

He then referred to his Muslim faith, saying "this is between me and the Almighty Allah".

The letter is dated February 9, almost two weeks after Surrey Police's announcement and one day before the Dowler family spoke out over their "torment and pain" at the harrowing detail of his crimes.

Milly was snatched from the street while on her way from school to her home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002.

Killed: Marsha McDonnell was another of Bellfield's victims in 2003 (Photo: PA)

Murder: Amelie Delagrange was just 22-years-old when she was killed (Photo: PA)

Her body was found in a wood in Yateley Heath, Hampshire - 25 miles from Walton-on-Thames.

Bellfield was found guilty of abducting and killing her following a trial at the Old Bailey.